FT. PIERCE, Fl. – The Wilkes University baseball team dropped an 11-8 decision to La Roche College on Tuesday evening on the Ft. Pierce Spring Break Trip.

The Colonels are now 2-4 on the season.

La Roche scored the game's first run in the top of the first when their leadoff hitter roped a double, advanced on a ground out, and stole home.

Wilkes responded in the bottom of the second when sophomore Joe Champi (Dupont, PA/Pittston) started the inning with a walk, stole second, and came around to score on junior Tanner Smith (Upper Black Eddy, PA/Palisades)'s single to tie the score at one.

The Redhawks scored three runs in the top of the fourth on four hits, one error, one walk, one hit-by-pitch, and one sacrifice fly. La Roche added another run in the fifth on a double, a single, two hit-by-pitches, and a walk to take a 6-1 lead.

The Redhawks added another run in sixth to take a 7-1 lead.

The Colonels answered with five runs in the bottom of the sixth when they brought 10 batters to the plate. Freshman Jack Fischer (River Vale, NJ/Pascack Valley) walked, junior Dan Eicher (Massapequa Park, NY/Kellenberg) singled, and sophomore Michael Wozniak was hit by a pitch to load the bases.

Freshman Sam Eyler (York, PA/West York) walked to force in a run, followed by a double off the bat of senior Ryan Herbst (East Islip, NY/St. John the Baptist). Sophomore Jarret Clymer (Bethlehem, PA/Freedom) followed with a walk and Champi added a single, but Wilkes was unable to push across any more runs.

La Roche added two runs in the seventh and two runs in the eighth.

The Colonels pushed across two more runs in the bottom of the eighth, but were unable to catch the Redhawks.

Wilkes starting pitcher Matthew Reese (Wellsboro, PA/Wellsboro) went 3.2 innings, surrendering four runs on seven hits with one strikeout.

The Colonels return to action today when they face Geneva College at 5:00 p.m.